Q & A Library

My blood pressure is high, but the doctor wants me to lose weight before considering medication. Isn't this dangerous? How high should blood pressure be before you need medication to lower it?

A

Answer (Published 4/12/2011)

Hypertension (high blood pressure) is the most common form of cardiovascular disease in the United States, affecting nearly one in three adults. High blood pressure is a serious threat to health because it makes the heart work harder, increasing its oxygen demands and raising the risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney disease.

Related Weil ProductsDr. Weil on Healthy Aging for Heart Health - Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging for Heart Health - Keep your heart healthy with small changes to your diet and lifestyle. Learn more - start your free trial of the Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging online guide today for access to an exclusive version of Dr. Weil's Anti-Inflammatory Food Pyramid and get 14 days free!

Some people can lower and control their blood pressure with healthy lifestyle measures: quitting smoking (if that's an issue), maintaining normal weight, getting regular exercise, and avoiding excess dietary sodium (processed foods are the main source). Even a 10 percent weight loss can sometimes bring high blood pressure under control. Limiting your intake of caffeine (in coffee, tea, sodas, and energy drinks) and alcohol can also help. I consider practicing relaxation methods to be even more important.

I discussed your question about when drug treatment for hypertension is appropriate with Stephen R. Devries, M.D. He is a preventive cardiologist and associate professor in the division of cardiology at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine and co-editor of Integrative Cardiology, a new book from Oxford University Press that is part of the Weil integrative medicine library. Like other books in this series, Integrative Cardiology is aimed at health professionals but can also be used by patients and their families, as well as by health-conscious individuals concerned with heart disease issues.

Dr. Devries agrees that focusing first on lifestyle changes is a very sensible strategy for patients with "borderline" blood pressure readings. However, he said, medication usually is needed if readings continue to exceed 140/90 (or 130/80 for diabetics or those with kidney disease), despite lifestyle changes. But even when drugs are prescribed, Dr. Devries emphasizes the importance of continuing with a low-salt diet that includes lots of vegetables and fruit, exercise, and stress reducing techniques, all of which can help keep the required dosages to a minimum.

My blood pressure is high, but the doctor wants me to lose weight before considering medication. Isn't this dangerous? How high should blood pressure be before you need medication to lower it?

A

Answer (Published 4/12/2011)

Hypertension (high blood pressure) is the most common form of cardiovascular disease in the United States, affecting nearly one in three adults. High blood pressure is a serious threat to health because it makes the heart work harder, increasing its oxygen demands and raising the risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney disease.

Related Weil ProductsDr. Weil on Healthy Aging for Heart Health - Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging for Heart Health - Keep your heart healthy with small changes to your diet and lifestyle. Learn more - start your free trial of the Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging online guide today for access to an exclusive version of Dr. Weil's Anti-Inflammatory Food Pyramid and get 14 days free!

Some people can lower and control their blood pressure with healthy lifestyle measures: quitting smoking (if that's an issue), maintaining normal weight, getting regular exercise, and avoiding excess dietary sodium (processed foods are the main source). Even a 10 percent weight loss can sometimes bring high blood pressure under control. Limiting your intake of caffeine (in coffee, tea, sodas, and energy drinks) and alcohol can also help. I consider practicing relaxation methods to be even more important.

I discussed your question about when drug treatment for hypertension is appropriate with Stephen R. Devries, M.D. He is a preventive cardiologist and associate professor in the division of cardiology at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine and co-editor of Integrative Cardiology, a new book from Oxford University Press that is part of the Weil integrative medicine library. Like other books in this series, Integrative Cardiology is aimed at health professionals but can also be used by patients and their families, as well as by health-conscious individuals concerned with heart disease issues.

Dr. Devries agrees that focusing first on lifestyle changes is a very sensible strategy for patients with "borderline" blood pressure readings. However, he said, medication usually is needed if readings continue to exceed 140/90 (or 130/80 for diabetics or those with kidney disease), despite lifestyle changes. But even when drugs are prescribed, Dr. Devries emphasizes the importance of continuing with a low-salt diet that includes lots of vegetables and fruit, exercise, and stress reducing techniques, all of which can help keep the required dosages to a minimum.

This Site and third parties who place advertisements on this Site may collect and use information about your visits to this Site and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. If you would like to obtain more information about these advertising practices and to make choices about online behavioral advertising, please click here

Q & A Library

My blood pressure is high, but the doctor wants me to lose weight before considering medication. Isn't this dangerous? How high should blood pressure be before you need medication to lower it?

A

Answer (Published 4/12/2011)

Hypertension (high blood pressure) is the most common form of cardiovascular disease in the United States, affecting nearly one in three adults. High blood pressure is a serious threat to health because it makes the heart work harder, increasing its oxygen demands and raising the risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney disease.

Related Weil ProductsDr. Weil on Healthy Aging for Heart Health - Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging for Heart Health - Keep your heart healthy with small changes to your diet and lifestyle. Learn more - start your free trial of the Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging online guide today for access to an exclusive version of Dr. Weil's Anti-Inflammatory Food Pyramid and get 14 days free!

Some people can lower and control their blood pressure with healthy lifestyle measures: quitting smoking (if that's an issue), maintaining normal weight, getting regular exercise, and avoiding excess dietary sodium (processed foods are the main source). Even a 10 percent weight loss can sometimes bring high blood pressure under control. Limiting your intake of caffeine (in coffee, tea, sodas, and energy drinks) and alcohol can also help. I consider practicing relaxation methods to be even more important.

I discussed your question about when drug treatment for hypertension is appropriate with Stephen R. Devries, M.D. He is a preventive cardiologist and associate professor in the division of cardiology at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine and co-editor of Integrative Cardiology, a new book from Oxford University Press that is part of the Weil integrative medicine library. Like other books in this series, Integrative Cardiology is aimed at health professionals but can also be used by patients and their families, as well as by health-conscious individuals concerned with heart disease issues.

Dr. Devries agrees that focusing first on lifestyle changes is a very sensible strategy for patients with "borderline" blood pressure readings. However, he said, medication usually is needed if readings continue to exceed 140/90 (or 130/80 for diabetics or those with kidney disease), despite lifestyle changes. But even when drugs are prescribed, Dr. Devries emphasizes the importance of continuing with a low-salt diet that includes lots of vegetables and fruit, exercise, and stress reducing techniques, all of which can help keep the required dosages to a minimum.

My blood pressure is high, but the doctor wants me to lose weight before considering medication. Isn't this dangerous? How high should blood pressure be before you need medication to lower it?

A

Answer (Published 4/12/2011)

Hypertension (high blood pressure) is the most common form of cardiovascular disease in the United States, affecting nearly one in three adults. High blood pressure is a serious threat to health because it makes the heart work harder, increasing its oxygen demands and raising the risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney disease.

Related Weil ProductsDr. Weil on Healthy Aging for Heart Health - Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging for Heart Health - Keep your heart healthy with small changes to your diet and lifestyle. Learn more - start your free trial of the Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging online guide today for access to an exclusive version of Dr. Weil's Anti-Inflammatory Food Pyramid and get 14 days free!

Some people can lower and control their blood pressure with healthy lifestyle measures: quitting smoking (if that's an issue), maintaining normal weight, getting regular exercise, and avoiding excess dietary sodium (processed foods are the main source). Even a 10 percent weight loss can sometimes bring high blood pressure under control. Limiting your intake of caffeine (in coffee, tea, sodas, and energy drinks) and alcohol can also help. I consider practicing relaxation methods to be even more important.

I discussed your question about when drug treatment for hypertension is appropriate with Stephen R. Devries, M.D. He is a preventive cardiologist and associate professor in the division of cardiology at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine and co-editor of Integrative Cardiology, a new book from Oxford University Press that is part of the Weil integrative medicine library. Like other books in this series, Integrative Cardiology is aimed at health professionals but can also be used by patients and their families, as well as by health-conscious individuals concerned with heart disease issues.

Dr. Devries agrees that focusing first on lifestyle changes is a very sensible strategy for patients with "borderline" blood pressure readings. However, he said, medication usually is needed if readings continue to exceed 140/90 (or 130/80 for diabetics or those with kidney disease), despite lifestyle changes. But even when drugs are prescribed, Dr. Devries emphasizes the importance of continuing with a low-salt diet that includes lots of vegetables and fruit, exercise, and stress reducing techniques, all of which can help keep the required dosages to a minimum.